Alarm mechanism for handbags or the like



Dec. 26, 1939. l c. E. LEVQIS A 2,185,060

ALARM MECHANISM FOR HANDBAG OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 27, 1936 Patented Dec. 26, 1939 ALARM MECHANISM FOR HANDBAGS R Y THE. LIKE Cyril Ernest, Lewis, Eastwood,,near Sydney, New

South Wales, Australia,assignor of. one-half g to Duke Etherington, Sydney, New South Wales,

Australia Application August 27, 1936, Serial No. 98,252 In Australia August 27, 1935 4 Claims. (01. 200-157) This invention relates to portable containers- (such as handbags, attache cases and the like) .that are provided with audible alarm mechanism,

adapted to. automatically sound when the container is unauthorisedly removed from a bags custodian or from a certain location.

' Heret'ofore several mechanisms-have been devised to operate an audible alarm within a bag, but such mechanisms are open to objection in that they are more or less complicated, and have required many working parts such as electrical relays or electromagnets and the like, which in addition to greatly addingto the dead weight of the bag seriously restrict the bags capacity.

This invention has been devised to provide handbag alarm operating means wherein the mentioned defects are eliminated and which is characterised by extreme simplicity, compactness and lightness of construction.

According to this invention the alarm operating mechanism consists of an operating lever having a medial fulcrum on or adjacent one of the inner wall faces of the bag, one arm of this lever lies exteriorly of the bag and the other arm, inside the bag,'is fashioned as a trigger adapted to coact with a switch lever in the bag, a spring (or springs) is provided which at all times tends to move the trigger and switch lever to on position.

This switch lever is situated within the bag and may be positioned to render the alarm mechanism non-operative, it constitutes part of a series circuit composed of an electrical battery and a sounding device.

In order that this invention may be readily carried into practical effect it will now be described with reference to the drawing (which is partly diagrammatic) wherein Fig. 1 is a side ele- U vation of the alarm operating mechanism positioned in a bag (fragmentarily depicted). Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 with the major part of the bag omitted.

Fig. 3, 4 and 5 are respectively side elevation, end elevation and plan of the mechanism with cover removed.

The bag 6 has handle 1 angle frame 8 and ordinary locking means (not shown). The alarm mechanism has an operating lever 9 having one arm III shaped and juxtaposed the handle I as r shown, the fulcrum II of lever 9 passes through the bag frame 8 and a base plate I2, interiorly of the bag is one arm I3 of lever 9, this arm I3-c0nstitutes a trigger having a slot I4 for one end I5 of a helical spring I6 wound abouta post I! fast in the base plate I2. This base plate is secured to the frame 8 by screws I8 which are of extended lengthand which together with the post II constitute afiixingmeans for a cover plate- I9.

Afiixed to plate I2 is a fulcrum post upon which. is mounted a switch lever 2 I. This switch lever has a hand piece 22 adapted to protrude through the floor of the cover plate I9, a contact arm 23, a slotted lug 24 for the end 25 of spring I6 and a tooth or dog 26 which normally rests in contact with the arm I3 of lever 9. The fulcrum post 20 constitutes a terminal for a lead 21 and its companion lead 28 has terminal 29 provided with a headtt adapted tobe contacted by the arm 23. Adjacent the hand piece 22 the base plate I2 has an integralwedge 3| upon which the said hand piece jambs when it is desiredto render the mechanism inoperative. The leads 21 and 28 form a circuit which includes a batteryand electrical sounding device which are contained in the bag 6 as indicated diagrammatically at 32 and 33 respectively.

In use the levers 9 and 2I are positioned as shown in the drawing and the lever arm I0 is held close against the handle I. When the hand grip is relinquished the spring I6 causes the lever arm II] to fall thus removing the arm I3 from the dog 26, this enables the spring I6 to efiect descent of the switch arm 23 which on abutting the terminal head closes the circuit and the alarm is sounded. Whilst sounding, the dog 26 is beyond the reach of lever arm I3 so that to silence the alarm it is ineffectual to manipulate lever arm I0 and it is thus necessary to open the bag and gain access to the hand piece 22. To render the alarm inoperative the hand piece 22 is travelled towards the wedge 3| until it firmly jambs thereagainst.

It will be seen that by suitably modifying lever arm I0 it could protrude through the floor of the bag in order to sound the alarm when the bag is lifted clear of its support.

I claim:

1. In an electrically operated alarm device for handbags and the like, a circuit-making and breaking mechanism actuated by releasing the grip on the handle of a handbag, comprising a circuit-controlling member pivoted within the handbag, means urging said member to circuitclosing position, and a latching member pivoted within the handbag for maintaining said circuitcontrolling member in circuit-opening position against the action of said last-mentioned means, said latching member having a portion extending exteriorly of the handbag in cooperative relation with the handle thereof, so that said portion may be grasped together with the handle to hold said latching member in latching position.

2. In an electrically operated alarm device for handbags and the like, a circuit-making and breaking mechanism actuated by releasing the grip on the handlle of a handbag, comprising a small casing within the handbag, a diminutive circuit-controlling member pivoted Within said casing, means urging said member to circuitclosing position, a latching member having a portion pivoted within said casing for maintaining said circuit-controlling member in circuit-opening position against the action of said last-mentioned means, said latching member having another portion extending exteriorly of the handbag in cooperative relation with the handle thereof, so that said last-mentioned portion may be grasped together with the handle to hold said,

tion against the action of said last-mentionedmeans, said latching member having a portion extending exteriorlyof the handbag in coopera- 1 tive relation with the handle thereof, so that said portion may be grasped together with the. handle to hold said latching member in latch-I ing position, means on said circuit-controlling member for returning it manually to circuit opening position after circuit-closing actuation of the mechanism, and latch means arranged cooperativelywith said last means for rendering" said circuit-controlling member inoperative at will.

like, circuit-making and breaking means actuated by releasing the grip on the handle of a handbag, comprising a lever fulcrumed in said handbag having an arm shaped complementary 4. In an alarm device for handbags and the with the handle of said handbag and positioned in juxtaposition thereto, 'a switch lever fu1- crumed in saidhandbag having an arm constituting an electrical switch contact and another arm constituting amanipulative. handle, a pro-l jection on said first lever, a trip dog on said switch lever eng-ageable by said rojection to hold the-switch lever in circuit-opening positionf a spring constructed and arranged, to actuate said levers to release said trip dog and to move said switch lever to circuit-closing position when a the arm of said first lever is released, and means arranged cooperatively, with saidother arm to latch said switch lever in inoperative position.

CYRIL ERNEST LEWIS. 

